Had my car broken into at Peers Cave on Sunday afternoon. Jimmied the lock and ripped out my tweeters. I think that were going after my speakers when they got disturbed. S'pose all the broken glass around should have been a tip off. Anyway just letting you all know that it still not safe to leave your car there.

Okay I admit that this may not be very helpful if you have an expensive sound system, but I never lock my car when I go to Peers Cave. (actually I never lock my car)My reasoning is that if they want to steal my car they are going to steal it anyway, if they just want to squizz around and steal something, I save on a window or replacing a lock, so far this theory has worked for a good couple of years. I left a pack of bubbles in my car at Peers Cave, that pack of chips cost me R400 (for a new window) and I didn't even taste it. Sorry to hear about that Wayne, that really sucks, especially after a day out.

Want to head to Peer's cave on the weekend. I am coming down from JHB and have read about the car breakin's at certain parking areas. Are these breakins still occuring? Is it otherwise safe to climb there If I park in a more secure area?

Hi last time I went there had my car broken into, was acouple of months ago. Some other members of the forum suggested parking outside the old age home which is nearby. Is there any specific reason for you wanting to go to Peer's as there is definatley better climbing elsewhere imo?

Now that I have actually read your post - other than the break in have not had any other problems but don't go there very often. It can be very quiet and lonely.

Shot for the reply. No real reason at other than trying somthing els. Been to Silvermine a few times and Montague as well. If you dont mind recomending elswhere cool to climb please let me know. I am afraid I only sport-climb, balls too small or trad!!

I have never had a problem at Peer's - another option is to get a host to drop you off at Peer's and fetch you some time after - this surprisingly works well, especially if you convince them to go veg out in Kalk bay or similar.

I agree in general - the routes are a tad short. For variety try the Hole, the Mine, or the Underside. Check the Wiki/Western Cape Rock for an idea of the grade ranges...

we park @ old-age home, no problems there, also climbing safe. Climbing is short but pumpy. Good for building power, but not worth the visit compared to other venues. Paarl is definately something different, so is trad. Get some balls!

I always end up having to bribe the attendant at the gate at the old age home, to be able to park there. Is this standard practice or is he pulling a fast one on me? I am usually just so grateful to be able to go climbing that I overlook the details.

Sorry to hijack the post but the guided tour up TM sounds awesome. Did a guided trip up a multipitch in Magalies and, although fraught with lightning, hail, and bailing out in an epic storm, it was truly amazing.

I'll be down in the Cape end December / first 2-3 weeks of January and would really like to organise to partake in a guided trad trip up TM; who do I speak to to organise?

I'd like to get into trad but honestly cannot come close to affording the rack that is needed at the moment.

If you want to trad climb with friends or acquaintances it is one thing.If you want a guided trip it is something completely different.

For the latter I suggest you speak to either Ross Suter or Ant Hall.If the former, ask around a little closer to the time, on this forum or at City Rock.Traddies are an agreable bunch (until you show them a grigri or a bolt ) so I'm sure you'll come right.

Ant, Ross, care to share your contact details to Crouching Cricket?

Oh, and Paarl really isn't the grey death it is made out to be...or used to be.There are so many blots lately that you'll probably run out of draws.

take out all your valuables and leave your car unlocked, save your window! (i do this everywhere, even outside my house, overnight) If they are going to steal your car they'll steal it whether its locked or not.

Catherine - I know of that strategy - but a warning - I know of two friends who used to have the same policy as you, right up until a homeless guy (or couple in the second case) took up residence in the car on a rainy night (different nights). Somehow I think I'd rather replace a window than clean up after a couple of Cape Town's unluckiest share my back seat...that said - I really hope to not have to replace a window.

Two skollies ambushed me 2 days ago (19th Dec) at 5pm on the walkout from Peers Cave, about 25m from the parking lot.They had knives and were quite happy to try and steek me when I resisted.They were primarily after cellphones but made off with my gear instead (clever).!!! Anyone heading to PC: BE CAREFUL !!!

Thanks for the heads up. What really worries me is that one day these scum are going to realise that climbers at crags are easy prey... then we are seriously in the shit. You know how easy it would be to hit a place like the Hole, or even S'mine lower crag?

And I'm not intending to dig, but you advise "be careful". Um, no offence, but do you think that you could have been more careful, if so, how? and would that have prevented your mugging?

Moaning to SANParks does no good, according to them mugging isn't a problem. They may also decide that a solution is to prevent people from hiking without a ranger escort (which you would no doubt have to pay for), or some such unhelpful response.

Yeah you're right, there is no real avoiding this situation if one has already decided to climb at PC (one path).It happened very fast and there was no sign of their approach.When I say "be careful" I mean just remember: this shit does happen, and it's a risk we have to sadly be aware of (it's actually something I rarely think about after a beautiful day climbing).

Sorry to hear about this. I always thought Peers Cave was quite vulnerable, especially with all the break ins at the parking lot.

Can you give a description? Clothing etc. Did they have a car? If they don't then they probably living there or within walking distance. These guys will return as they have now established a zone of comfort to do their crap.

Possibly a tad excessive, but even just carrying a walking stick / ski pole / (sjambok?) makes you look like a less of a target to opportunistic criminals? And arming yourself with pepper spray or a similar defensive weapon is better than nothing, as is going for the strength in numbers option?

Sad to hear these events are becoming a more common occurence and moving out from the cities to harder to police areas

They were two black guys with small builds: one quite short (about 160cm), around 40, with a full beard; and the other a bit taller (about 180cm), late twenties, clean shaven, baseball cap.I reported the issue immediately to the police (case 145/12/2011) and they managed to get a list of suspects quite quickly from a nearby wood seller.These guys almost certainly didn't have a car (I think they use the paths behind the car park).I like the look of that walking sword - having a weapon could probably chase away a lot of the pricks preying on climbers/walkers in the mountains ... but you never know, it could always escalate.In my situation they only pulled out the knife after we got aggressive with the guy trying to search our belongings.